Test Questions Flashcards
What is the relationship between Bowens Reaction Series and Weathering
Minerals at the top of the Bowen series crystallize under high temperatures and pressures, and chemically weather at a faster rate than minerals ranked at the bottom.
High temp. + pressure = rapid weathering
Low temp. + pressure + slower weathering, whatever doesn’t dissolve forms clay.
Why are nitrogen fixing bacteria so important in soils.
The bacteria absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere then converted into nitrogen compounds. These compounds are absorbed by plants and used to make DNA amino acids and enzymes. That nitrogen is an essential component of production of proteins and DNA in biological life
What are the special properties of water
Polarity Cohesion Adhesion Hydrogen Bonds Universal solvent
Define immature sandstones
Contain a mix of clay Martix’s and sand grains that are angular and poorly sorted.
What is the geothermal gradient
The rate of temperature increase in accordance with depth
The average temperature rate in the upper 100km of the crust is 25C/Km
What does the term porphyritic mean
An igneous rock with two distinctive crystal sizes. This is common in intrusive or extrusive rocks.
What is a batholith
Used to describe a large mass or chain of many plutons and intrusive rocks. They are typically more than 100 km2 in area, associated with subduction zones, and mostly felsic in composition
explain cross cutting relationships***** test questions
the Law of Crosscutting Relationships stated that if a fault or other body of rock cuts through another body of rock then it must be younger in age than the rock through which it cuts and displaces.
Test questions**** How does heat and temperature effect metamorphism
The temperatures and pressures are much higher than on the earths surface. HOWEVER it does not cause melting or magma, thus the temperature and pressure are below the conditions that cause for melting. High Grade starts at 600 degrees C
Test question** What state do metamorphic rocks remain in?
Solid, and metamorphic rocks change off the different protoliths they have or the different (Starting rocks)
What are high grade metamorphic rocks** test question
Rocks that are formed under high temperature and high pressure
Formation of cross bending **test question (sedimentary rocks)
direction of flow in water determines the direction of the Dip of Lee slope. Symmetrical ripples and asymmetrical ripples.
Define foliation***possible test question
Foliation is a term used that describes minerals lined up in planes. Certain minerals, most notably the mica group, are mostly thin and planar by default. Foliated rocks typically appear as if the minerals are stacked like pages of a book, thus the use of the term ‘folia’, like a leaf
Formation of cross bending **test question (sedimentary rocks)
direction of flow in water determines the direction of the Dip of Lee slope. Symmetrical ripples and asymmetrical ripples.
Define foliation***possible test question
Foliation is a term used that describes minerals lined up in planes. Certain minerals, most notably the mica group, are mostly thin and planar by default. Foliated rocks typically appear as if the minerals are stacked like pages of a book, thus the use of the term ‘folia’, like a leaf
How did alfred wagner influence plate tectonics
He introduced the concept of continental drift to the literature.
what is wilsons cycle
The Wilson Cycle is named for J. Tuzo Wilson who first described it in 1966, and it outlines the ongoing origin and breakup of supercontinents, such as Pangea and Rodinia. Scientists have determined this cycle has been operating for at least three billion years and possibly earlier.
What is the approximate velocity of the fastest-moving tectonic plates on Earth?
138-150 mm/y
who is James Hutton and what did he do
Created Uniformitarianisim
What is the approximate velocity of the fastest-moving tectonic plates on Earth?
138-150 mm/y
define Pyroclastic Flow
is an avalanche of hot ash and pumice and rock fragments and volcanic gases, that cools and welds together after deposited on surfaces.
